Oregon Staying in the Mix for USC Commit Isaiah Gibson
Oregon has two commits along its defensive line in the 2025 class, but Tony Tuitoi, Tosh Lupoi and Dan Lanning are searching throughout the country for more pieces. Warner Robins (Ga.) defensive lineman and USC commit Isaiah Gibson is someone Oregon has quietly stayed in the mix for since he chose Lincoln Riley’s program in late March.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman was in Nashville this week for the On3 Elite Series and spoke with ScoopDuck about the latest in his recruitment.
Oregon has stayed in contact with Gibson, who’s had the Ducks on his radar for a long time.
“I talk to Coach Tosh (Lupoi) a lot. He was just at my school not too long ago. I wanna say he was there last Monday. Him and Coach (Tony) Tuioti. We had that talk. Oregon’s been my dream school growing up.”
The Ducks have known about him dating back to his early days as a recruit.
“It’s a very good relationship,” he said of Oregon. “We built that relationship since I would say the beginning of 10th grade. So it’s just a very good strong relationship over the time.”
The No. 2 EDGE in the On3 rankings has been to Eugene on two unofficial visits, with the most recent trip coming last fall.
“I went up there when they played USC actually. It was just overall a great feeling. I love everything about Eugene. I’m a fan of Oregon, so I feel like I love everything about Oregon. It’s just overall a great feeling of the environment of Eugene.”
The relationships Gibson has built in Eugene are strong and cover both sides of the ball.
“I talk to Coach (Jack) Smith a lot, that’s my dog,” he aid. “He works with the quarterbacks. He was the first person I ever talked to on the Oregon staff. He was the first person that I went to for everything. Coach Smith and Coach Tosh are my strongest relationships I have over there.”
Both Lupoi and Dan Lanning’s backgrounds are part of what make Oregon an appealing option from Gibson’s long list of offers that is nearing 40 schools.
“I feel like he (Lupoi) has a resume. Him coming from an SEC school, Coach Lanning coming from an SEC school, I just feel like the overall relationship that we’ve built over time is just amazing. I feel like Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Florida—that’s really where the football means the most at. Them coming from that to Oregon, I feel like they’re bringing that caliber of football to Oregon.”
One of the top players in Georgia will take an official visit to Oregon later on this fall.
“I’m going to OV to Oregon when they play Ohio State.”
Gibson Talks USC
Gibson is one of the top commits in the Trojans’ 2025 class and spoke about why USC was the choice.
“I just feel like during the time it was an amazing environment,” he said. “In those few days I met every check box, everything that I could possibly even think of.”
The Trojans are trying to turn things around on defense heading into the 2024 season and he’s excited to see what the team can put together.
“USC, we’re trying to turn everything around. We’re getting all the players that we need, doing all the right things, all the positive things to get back where we should be.”
The talented defensive lineman is one of three players from the Peach State (Julian Lewis, Justus Terry) that are committed to USC as Lincoln Riley continues to prioritize the Southeast region.
“I just feel like it was just a movement. It was just a random movement. Me and Justus committed at the same time. Juju was already committed prior to that. It was just a movement every time. USC wants the best of the best. They’re trying to get the best of the best for sure.”
He has a number of official visits planned moving forward, starting with Georgia this weekend. In addition to the in-state Bulldogs, he will take official visits to South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee, and Oklahoma this month.
Gibson will also take official visits to Florida State and Texas during the season.
With so many schools still recruiting him I asked him about the status of his commitment to USC.
“I still plan on staying strong in my commitment. I don’t plan on decommitting or changing my decision any time soon. I don’t feel like changing anything of that nature.”
Gibson plans to sign and enroll early at the the school of his choice in December.
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